our two chief negotiators, rose and ellen are here, and they did a terrific job, and we've had a very positive endorsement of it by former secretaries of state and defense of both parties, the joint chiefs have come out, everybody's come out for it. and, you know, it's a political issue. i wish it weren't because most of these treaties, you know, pass 95-0, 90-3. they have huge overwhelming majorities in the senate. but we know that we have, you know, political issues that we have to address which we are and talking to those who have some questions. but i hope at the end of the day the senate will say, you know, some things should just be beyond any kind of election or partisan calculation and that everybody will pull together and we'll get that s.t.a.r.t. treaty done which i know from my own conversations, it's seen as a really important symbol of our commitment to continue working with the russians. >> just one last question, then i'll open it up to our members. you're about, as you said, to head back to the middle east for the resumption of the israeli/palestinian talks. the op-ed